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G. P. A; GUNTHER. FISH TANK 0R AQUARIUM. No. 460,810. Patented Oct. 6, 1891.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. P.'A. GUNTHER! FISH TANK 0R AQUARIUM. No. 460,810. Patented Oct. 6,1891.

(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3. G. P. A. GUNTHER. FISH TANK 0R AQUARIUM.

No. 460,810. Patented Oct, 6, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE P. A. GUNTHER, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y.

FISH-TANK OR AQUARIUM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,810, dated October 6, 1891.

Application filed December 8, 1890. Serial No. 378,860. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. A. GUNTHER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, New York, have invented certain Improvements in Fish Tanks or Aquariums, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention consists of certain details in the construction of a fish-tank or aquarium, the character and object of my improvements being fully described hereinafter, and the specific features and novelty being set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of an aquarium, illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear view on a somewhat smaller scale. Fig. at is a perspective view of another form of aquarium embodying the invention, and Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the same.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A represents the vessel constituting the body or casing of the aquarium, this vessel being in the present instance of quadrangular form and having in its front portion a plate B, of glass, so as to permit free inspection of the contents of the vessel.

On the rear wall a of the vessel is formed a pocket D, which tapers from top to bottom, being widest at the top and narrowest at the bottom, where it communicates with a contracted discharge-passage 1), leading through the bottom of the vessel to an outlet-nozzle d at the front of the same. The rear wall a of the vessel is discontinued some distance below the top of said vessel, so as to provide an overflow communicating with'the chamber or passage Within the real-pocket D, the tapering of this pocket serving to concentrate the volume'of overflow as it descends, so that, even if the volume of the overflow is but slight, it will by the time it reaches the bottom of the pocket and the discharge-passage Z) fill the latter, and will have acquired such velocity of flow as to effectually prevent the collection of sediment in said passage. Moreover, the contraction of the passage 7) permits of the discharge of the overflow into a receptacle fof small dimensions and prevents the slopping or drip of extended area and the flow through the same was sluggish.

Some little distance in advance of the back wall a of the vessel the sides of the latter are grooved for the reception of the edges of a slab or plate F, which extends from the top of the vessel or from a point above the overflow-line down to apoint close to the bottom of the vessel. Hence water in seeking the overflow must pass beneath this slab, which practically forms a false back for the vessel. The discharge-current is therefore always from the bottom of the vessel, and tends to carry up with it sediment which may have collected on said bottom.

On the face of the slab F are pockets or receptacles g, which are intended for the reception of stones and aquatic plants, the lower receptacle having the plants which usually grow at the bottoms of streams or ponds, while the upper receptacle carries the plants which usually grow at or near the surface.

The vessel A can be conveniently formed of glass or earthenware in one piece, and the front glass B and false wall F can be readily slipped into place, so that the vessel provides an attractive form of aquarium which can be constructed more cheaply than the built-up aquariums sometimes employed.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown another form of myim proved aquarium having false walls F at the back and at both sides and having discharge-pockets D at the back and at both sides, the overflow-openings being formed in the outer walls of the vessel some distance below the top of the same; but the tapering form of the discharge-pocket being preserved for the reasons before given. In this case, also, there is a central discharge or overflow in the form of a cylinder rising from the bottom of the vessel and tapered internally, with a contracted outlet at the bottom, and this central overflow is hidden from view by a surrounding structure J, which is in the present instance in the form of a light-house, but which may represent any structure of an ornamental character. This outer casing may, if desired,have in the upper portion an elecwhich would result if the outlet-passage was trio lamp, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5,

. the wires from said lamp extending down through the central overflow-passage.

The inclosing casingJ is mounted upon lugs m on the bottom of the vessel, so that its lower edge is some distance above said bottom and permits the free flow of water from the bottom of the tank in seeking an escape through the central overflow-passage, and in said outer casing a short distance above the bottom of the same are openings 'n for receiving the stems of water-plants, which are rooted inside said casing, as shown in Fig. 5.

Having thus described my. invention, I claim and'desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. A fish-tank or aquarium consisting of a vessel having on its outer wall a dischargepocket receiving the overflow from the tank at its upper end, said pocket being tapered from the upper to the lower end and terminating in a contracted outlet at said lower end, substantially as specified.

2. A fish-tank or aquarium having on its outer wall a discharge-pocket communicating at its upper end with the overflow and at its lower end with a contracted discharge-passage in the bottom of the vessel, saidoverfiowpocket being tapered from top to bottom, so as to gradually concentrate the volume of water entering the same from the overflow, substantially as specified.

3. A fish-tank or aquarium having an overflow pocket or passage on the outer wall and having adjacent to said outer wall a false wall terminating a short distance above the bottom of the tank and adapted to guides on the side walls, so as to be detachable from the tank, substantially as specified.

4. A fish-tank or aquarium having a detachable wall provided with a pocket for the reception of aquatic plants, substantially as specified.

5. A fish-tank or aquarium having a detachable wall provided with pocketsor receptacles for the reception of aquatic plants, one of said pockets being close to the bottom of the tank and the other close to the top of the same, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE P. A. GUNTl-IER.

Witnesses:

GEo. R. WOOD, GEORGE E. KETTELL. 

